Reinforced side seam construction for large capacity cans



Aug. 7, 1962 T- P. GARDNER REINFORCED SIDE SEAM CONSTRUCTION FOR LARGECAPACITY CANS Filed July 2, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet l United States Patent ice 3,048,300 REINFORCED SIDE SEAM CONSTRUCTION FOR LARGE CAPACITY CANSThomas P. Gardner, Port Arthur, Tern, assignor to Texaco Inc., acorporation of Delaware Filed July 2, 1958, Ser. No. 746,218 1 Claim.(Cl. 220-77) This invention relates generally to side seam constructionfor metallic containers and more particularly to reinforce cemented sideseams for relatively large diameter containers.

Present side seam construction consists of reversely bent edges of thecontainer blank pressed together into tightly hooked contact with eachother, prior to the application of solder. The increasing employment ofcemented side seam construction in the manufacture of cans is ofeconomic importance, since it makes possible the use of black iron as areplacement for the more expensive tin plate, necessary with solderedseams. Cemented side seams are satisfactory in cans of one quart liquidcapacity made either of tin plate or black iron, but when used in largercans, for example, of one gallon capacity, the can wall tends to bulgeat the seam and eventually seam failure results, because of the greaterforce exerted by the liquid against the side seam.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved container of large capacity having a cemented side seamconstruction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means forreinforcing the cemented side seam of a relatively large capacitymetallic container.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a means formaking an improved and strengthened cemented side seam for a containerof large capacity.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description in thespecification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 shows a portion of a completed cylindrical can with thereinforced side seam;

FIG. 2a is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line aa ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 2b is an enlarged partial sectional view of the reinformed sideseam taken along the line bb of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3a and 3b are side elevation and face views, respectively, of theupper die or steel used in forming the side seam of the presentinvention;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 33 ofFIG. 3a;

FIGS. 4a and 4b are side elevation and face views, respectively, of thelower die or hammer used in forming the side seam of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 40 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken along the line 4-4 ofFIG. 4a.

The objects of invention are attained by the use of reinforcingcorrugations parallel to and adjacent the side seam of a can body toprovide lateral rigidity to the can seam. To further strengthen theseam, corrugations transverse to and through the seam may be applied.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2a of the drawings, there is disclosed a canbody indicated generally at 10, with the edges bent back reversely toeach other so as to provide inside and outside interlocking hooks, 11,12, FIG. 2a. The ends of the edges forming the hooks are cut away (notshown) so that when the seam is formed, the end portions at 13, 14, FIG.1, lap over each other and are flanged to the can ends 15, 15, by doubleseaming or the like, by methods well known to the art.

Referring to FIG. 2a, there is shown, in enlarged cross section, theinterengagement of the hooks 11, 12, which are interlocked by beingpressed together between the 3,048,300 Patented Aug. 7, 1952 steel ofFIGS. 30, 3b and 3c and the hammer of FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c.

In addition to the interlocking of the hooks, the seam is reinforced bythe provision of the longitudinal corrugations or grooves 16, 17,parallel to and adjacent the hooks, providing not only columnar rigiditybut also structural support for the bases of the hooks to prevent theirdisengagement, as seen clearly in FIG. 2a.

The reinforced seam is further strengthened by the use of a series ofspaced transverse crimps or indentations 18, which divide the seam intoshorter columnar sections and seal off the seam from the lapped ends.FIG. 2b is an enlarged section through the length of the seam, showingthe outwardly projecting corrugation I7 and one of the indentations 18.The use of the spaced crimps or indentations 18 may be omitted if thelength of the reinforced seam is not too extensive.

Referring to FIGS. 3a, 3b and 3c and FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, the ribs onthe forming dies, which produce the corrugations and indentations 16, 17and 18, are disclosed respectively at 16', 17 and 13. When the steel andhammer press the reversely bent edges of the can body together, theinterlocking hooks 11 and 12 are nested between the ribs 16' and 17' andrest against the recessed bed faces 11, 12, FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively,while the ribs 16 and 17 press against the can body adjoining the hooksat the end part 26 of the recessed bed face 11 and the groove at 27,respectively. The face 20' of the hammer (FIG. 40) holds the can body incontact with the bottom of longitudinal groove 21, FIG. 30, while thelongitudinal seat face at 22 holds the can body at the opposite side ofthe seam in contact with the longitudinally extending shelf at 23, FIG.3a.

The transverse indentations at 18 are pressed out when rib 18' forcesthe interlocking hooks into the transverse groove 28, FIGS. 3a, 3b and30. When the transverse indentations are not employed, the longitudinalribs 16 and 17 and their complementary recessed portions at 26 and 27 onthe faces of the steel and hammer are uninterrupted throughout theirextent.

Thus there has been shown and described a new and improved side seam fora large diameter cylindrical container, which may be cemented in themanner disclosed in my copending application for patent, Ser. No.680,577, filed on August 27, 1957, together with means for forming theimproved side seam. Although the description has been directedspecifically to a cylindrical container having a cemented side scam, theside seam reinforced with corrugations may be applied to any shape ofcontainer made of black iron or tin plate and having an elongated sideseam and which may be soldered instead.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention, ashereinbefore set forth, may be made without departing from the spiritand scope thereof, and therefore, only such limitations should beimposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

In a container, a body having the opposing edges of the blank from whichit is formed joined together in a side seam of interlocked, reverselybent hooks extending between lapped edges at the ends of said side seamWhere said hooks are cut away, the Wall of the can body adjacent saidseam having a pair of reinforcing corrugations deformed therefrom intocontact with each of the bases of said hooks and extending from lappededge to lapped edge of said seam thereby to impart columnar rigiditythereto, said side seam throughout the extent of said hooks having aplurality of relatively widely spaced indentations normal to saidcorrugations spaced equally along the length of said seam to limitcolumnar length therein and at the ends of the hook portion thereofseparating said lapped edges from the hooked portion of said scram,said. indentations, being restricted in length to extend from onereinforcing corrugation to the other reinforcing corrugation.

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